Two Mitchell’s Plain pupils took top honours in the Western Cape Education Department’s Grade 4 pupils’ writing competition.
Mitchell’s Plain Primary School pupil Kylie Muller, who is now in Grade 5, won second place and Kristan Gabriels, from AZ Berman Primary came fourth in the 2020 competition.
They had to complete the story of “The adventures of Felix and Felicity” – Kylie’s ending was published in a booklet showcasing Story Stars.
They received their certificates recently.
Kylie received a tablet, book bag and stationery.
“I like writing stories. I can create my own world and I like to see what would happen in different situations or how I think they would react,” she said.
She took about three hours to write her ending to the story.
Teachers were encouraged to allow their pupils to read the story booklet which had been provided to schools, watch the animation film, and then finish the story by including themselves as a character using the learner booklets.
This year teachers were given a matrix to assist them with marking the creative story and they were due to submit the winning entry from their class to the department last Friday April 23.
Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the idea behind the competition was to get pupils excited about creative writing and the opportunities it can bring.
“In a survey of a class of Grade 4 pupils in 2019, it was evident that their interests lay in watching cartoons and becoming YouTube stars!”
“The department decided to create a competition which encouraged reading and creative writing, that could ultimately result in an animated film – written, narrated and starred in by the winner themselves,” said Ms Mauchline .
